i think i have to be looks like 9m weather. When are you going. I'll probably roll out of work (in loop) sometime between 11 and 130. Anyone else give me a ride or need one. I'm picking up a zipcar and heading to wolf.... need some kiting.

Rode for a while just south of Grand Haven in EPIC conditions with waves 6 to 10 feet and winds to 40 mph side on shore. Had a rough go of it starting with a 10m ARC and switching to a 13 m later to get through the waves. Winds gusty with waves all the way out across the lake with no break to get to clear swells to ride upwind. From riding the west coast of Florida had forgotten the punishment the Big Lake can dish out. Got dumped several times and felt happy to have a board leash and not need to body drag to it in huge irregular waves. Could have easily done a downwinder with the smaller kite, but didn't have a pickup person.

Enjoyed the day and clean air in the sun with lots of young body surfers near shore on a day when Mother Nature clearly ruled supreme....

Got a nice glass of Remi Martin. Man wolf lake was fun. Bit to much wind for me to bost clean but got some fun big airs when it was still 20-25knots and a good clean backroll and a bunch of fun hard crashes.

What a day!... Left Chicago afterwork around 3pm. Went to Weko first but boy was it howling on shore. Figured out MC would be good and was not mistaken. West and the crew were setting up after doing a downwinder from SJ to SH. They got it right today. But the best was coming! 20-25 kts in side on shore with well organized swell from 6p till darkness around 7:45p I guess. 7 and 9m in the air. Rides on the wave for 100 - 150 meters on the same wave. Both tacks working for the wave rides! Clean, headhigh faces at least. Peeling. Gorgeous sunset. Warm waters. I should have some footage but it's too late now.
tomorrow should bring something good too
hope everyone is enjoying the summer
Slavi

Got pummelled by on-shore winds and punishing waves at St. Joe yesterday. Got there just as it turned west. Should have taken the MC exit off I-94! (Still had fun though)
This after getting skunked at South Haven on Monday. My wind forecasting skills are pathetic...
Glad to hear you all got some!
-Ray

"good thing that I had that board leash" haven't you kited long enough to body drag confidently.

I think you have been riding longer than I have and I have no problem chasing down my surfboard in big waves.

What I am getting at is that body dragging is the key to being a safe self sufficient kiteboarder and somebody with as much experience as you should not be advocating a board leash. We should be advocating confidence and skill sets that get you out of a situation not death leashes.

jensmadwind, not to "take anyone side" , but why one decision to use a leash Vs 'work a bit hard' on body dragging is so wrong ??

I'm sorry, but without hijack this post, and after everyone said their peace about board leash and body dragging (on a different post), I do not understand why forcing some one's decision on another person or better yet, say they are wrong ?? and please, cause I know I'll hear a lot of responds for that, lets NOT review all the pros & cons of using a leash.......accidents happen with cars too, yet we're all still using them

jojy wrote:jensmadwind, not to "take anyone side" , but why one decision to use a leash Vs 'work a bit hard' on body dragging is so wrong ??....

There is no law that you cannot use a board leash...
and there is no law that says you must have common sense either.

But there is NO NEED to use a board leash. If you are kiting at some spot/or in conditions where you feel a leash is necessary than you probably should not be kiting that day. The risks of a board leash under those circumstances outweighs any other options IMO.

Every single one of my students, in over 500 lessons, learned how to body drag and retrieve the board. It's no big deal to learn the proper technique.

Yes, it is hard to find a twin tip sometimes in big waves/choppy water. But using a leash on a twin tip is like tieing one end of a rubber band to your body and the other end to the handle of a machete...very risky.

A surfboard will float higher and will surf it's way downwind quickly, sometimes all the way to the beach before you catch it...OK, minor hassle in comparison to getting your teeth knocked out because of a leash.

If you follow the cardinal rules about what conditions are safe for kiting your board will end up on the beach. It's always nice if another rider can assist if you get yanked downwind and saves you a lot of dragging. Put your name/tel/email on your board just in case you can't retrieve it.

since we were discussing a "safety" issue such as a board leash.. did anyone have a word with this kitesurfer about being "safe" when flying a kite on the beach with beach goers downwind? I was concerned and just thought i might bring it up.. all I know, is from what I hear about the Sheriff, he'd have lost his mind if he were to have seen something like this.. I also do not wish to hijack this thread but since we were talking about good decisions..